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159th out of 236 books
—
1,113 voters
Breath of Angel (The Angelaeon Circle #1)
by
Karyn Henley (Goodreads Author)
The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.
Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stor...more
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.
Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stor...more
Paperback, 277 pages
Published
June 21st 2011
by WaterBrook Press
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Mar 19, 2013
Katy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Family-friendly fantasy, Kriss Morton for her column
Recommended to Katy by:
Amazon Vine program
Shelves:
vine-book
Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Christian Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult (15 and up)
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy stories, YA readers, others who enjoy a good, clean fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence
My Thoughts: In my original review, I mentioned that this would possibly be appropriate for readers as young as 12, but re-reading it, I'm thinking maybe slightly older. I was remembering the sorts of books I read at age 12, but I was reading at about the level of an 18-year-old when I was 12...more
Reading Level: Young Adult (15 and up)
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy stories, YA readers, others who enjoy a good, clean fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence
My Thoughts: In my original review, I mentioned that this would possibly be appropriate for readers as young as 12, but re-reading it, I'm thinking maybe slightly older. I was remembering the sorts of books I read at age 12, but I was reading at about the level of an 18-year-old when I was 12...more
Also see the review on my blog.
Breath of Angel started off quick and smooth. Not even five pages passed before the murder occurred and not ten before angels were announced. It was very prompt and captured my interest right off the bat.
As I continued, however, I found myself slowly losing interest. Even with such an excellent hook, it couldn't keep my attention for very long. There was nothing wrong with the story itself -- on the contrary, I've always been a fan of both angel and shape-shifting...more
Breath of Angel started off quick and smooth. Not even five pages passed before the murder occurred and not ten before angels were announced. It was very prompt and captured my interest right off the bat.
As I continued, however, I found myself slowly losing interest. Even with such an excellent hook, it couldn't keep my attention for very long. There was nothing wrong with the story itself -- on the contrary, I've always been a fan of both angel and shape-shifting...more
I am not finished with this book yet and I can already tell you it is REALLY good. I got it for Easter with a book mark inside it with my name on it. I may be wrong, but their seems to be a little rommance in this book. It has a map of the places in the book and it really helps.
You people who try to find the bad in EVERY thing you read, try this book out and try to find the GOOD things instead of the bad. I, for one, get really ticked off people take a good book and make it seem horrible. It...more
You people who try to find the bad in EVERY thing you read, try this book out and try to find the GOOD things instead of the bad. I, for one, get really ticked off people take a good book and make it seem horrible. It...more
1 like · like · see review
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/?p=3384
Okay – I was a bit wary when starting Breath of Angel. I’m not a huge fan of adult books (shocking, right?) – especially not adult paranormal books. Angels are not really my thing, at all. BUT the premise of Breath of Angel? Pretty intriguing, huh?
When I picked Breath of Angel up and started reading – I realized it’s sort of really not all that paranormalish. It’s definitely about angels, but Karyn Henley definitely did it WAY different...more
Okay – I was a bit wary when starting Breath of Angel. I’m not a huge fan of adult books (shocking, right?) – especially not adult paranormal books. Angels are not really my thing, at all. BUT the premise of Breath of Angel? Pretty intriguing, huh?
When I picked Breath of Angel up and started reading – I realized it’s sort of really not all that paranormalish. It’s definitely about angels, but Karyn Henley definitely did it WAY different...more
There seems to be this strange trend these days for books with angels and Nephilim as characters. Nephilim being the off-spring of angels and humans. The rash of books one might see in bookstores and online (I have noticed it myself) is somewhat annoying. It seems like every craze has to be imitated. Whether this be vampires, goblins, time travel, or now, this angel schtick.
I hate trends like this. So I surprised myself by agreeing to review the novel, *Breath of Angel*, by Karyn Henley. I found...more
I hate trends like this. So I surprised myself by agreeing to review the novel, *Breath of Angel*, by Karyn Henley. I found...more
Breath Of Angel is the first book in the Angeleon Circle series. I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading the other books that will be coming out in this series.
Once I got stated reading this book it was hard to put it down. I just wanted to keep reading further... There were a couple of area's in the book that I got a little lost on but for the most part I thought it was enjoyable.
* I have participated in an ARC Tour of Breath Of Angel for review threw Around The World ARC Tour...more
Once I got stated reading this book it was hard to put it down. I just wanted to keep reading further... There were a couple of area's in the book that I got a little lost on but for the most part I thought it was enjoyable.
* I have participated in an ARC Tour of Breath Of Angel for review threw Around The World ARC Tour...more
I received this as a prepublication copy from Library Journal and had never read anything by this author before. This is the first book in The Angeleon Circle series, and from the series and book titles you can see that angels are the theme here.
The main character is Melaia, a young priestess/chantress, who witnesses the murder of a messenger in her temple courtyard. Shortly after this event, the murderer shows up there, but while he did the act as a hawk, he now appears in his human form. He as...more
The main character is Melaia, a young priestess/chantress, who witnesses the murder of a messenger in her temple courtyard. Shortly after this event, the murderer shows up there, but while he did the act as a hawk, he now appears in his human form. He as...more
Melaia, a young priestess, discovers a stranger in the temple courtyard who upon her approach is attacked and killed by an abominably large black feathered bird. When she takes the body into the temple she finds that the stranger isn’t human at all – he is an angel and his bloodied, but once white wings attest. This is when she recognizes that most of what she has been taught about the world wasn’t half of the truth. Angels exist!
Breath of Angel
by Karyn Henley
Waterbrook
June 2011
Melaia is soon on...more
Breath of Angel
by Karyn Henley
Waterbrook
June 2011
Melaia is soon on...more
Description:
The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.
Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.
Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the...more
The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.
Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.
Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the...more
Breath of Angel is the first book in the Angelaeon Circle series. The cover is what originally captured my interest in this book. It was dark and eerie which seemed to fit my mood at that time. Unfortunately, this book was not as great as I was hoping.
Everything you would want in a plot is touched on in this book. At times, it became to be a little cliched. There are many books out there that feature angels and such, but this book really didn't have anything to really stand out in my mind and ma...more
Everything you would want in a plot is touched on in this book. At times, it became to be a little cliched. There are many books out there that feature angels and such, but this book really didn't have anything to really stand out in my mind and ma...more
I was excited when I received this book because I generally love this type of story. Fantasy. Young Adult. First in a series. This book did not disappoint. From the opening chapter, described in the publisher’s synopsis, to the end the book moved at a good pace, not too slow and not too fast. There was plenty of details to build this world and it’s characters for this book and future ones.
The book opens with a map of the world and a cast of characters, which was very helpful because there are a...more
The book opens with a map of the world and a cast of characters, which was very helpful because there are a...more
Fantasy is not a genre that I usually read. Matter of fact, I could probably count on one hand the times that I have read it. Every now and then though I want something different to sink my teeth into and when I saw this book offered as a choice to review, I jumped at the chance.
The first thing I noticed when starting to read is that I felt like I was starting to learn a different vocabulary and since I had never heard of some of the words before, made up my own pronunciations as I went along. N...more
The first thing I noticed when starting to read is that I felt like I was starting to learn a different vocabulary and since I had never heard of some of the words before, made up my own pronunciations as I went along. N...more
Melaia is a young priestess that witnesses a hawk trying to kill a stranger in the temple courtyard. After she beats the hawk away, she realizes that the wounds are so bad that the stranger dies. Upon preparing the body, Melaia learns that the stranger was an angel. That evening, as she is telling a story to the younger girls, a stranger demands that she tell the story of the Wisdom Tree.
The Wisdom Tree is the stairway to the heavens that the angels traveled on along with the souls of the depart...more
The Wisdom Tree is the stairway to the heavens that the angels traveled on along with the souls of the depart...more
In Breath of an angel we meet Melaia a young Priestess who has just witnessed a terrible murder in the temple courtyard, Shocked and doubting what she actually saw could a large hawk have really done this to this poor man and why.
As the story progresses Melaia finds herself sent off to court to play the harp for her lord. Melaia does not want to leave the safety of her temple but orders are orders. Before leaving Melaia finds out some of the old tales she has heard about all her life seem to ha...more
As the story progresses Melaia finds herself sent off to court to play the harp for her lord. Melaia does not want to leave the safety of her temple but orders are orders. Before leaving Melaia finds out some of the old tales she has heard about all her life seem to ha...more
Jun 20, 2011
Theresa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who loves fantasy.
Recommended to Theresa by:
FIRST
A young adult fantasy with a medieval feel, "Breath of Angel", was a fantastic read! Henley constructed a story that contains everything that makes a fantasy work: priestesses, priests, nobility, hawk-people, angels, shape shifters, and spirits. She also developed a story that will please not only young adults, but everyone that loves a good fantasy.
Full of suspense that will keep you wanting to read more, and a cast of characters that are amazing, "Breath of Angel" was certainly one book I didn...more
Full of suspense that will keep you wanting to read more, and a cast of characters that are amazing, "Breath of Angel" was certainly one book I didn...more
Angels, magic, and myths? Right up my alley! I liked this book. The plot is complicated enough to keep my interest, but not too much that I couldn't follow it. The book unfortunately has that slightly unpolished book newer authors typically have. Nothing horrible, but just the occasional awkward phrase.
More than anything, this book NEEDS a glossary. I think almost any book involving more than 5 main characters could use one, but especially if they all have names like Pym and Paullus and Peron. I...more
More than anything, this book NEEDS a glossary. I think almost any book involving more than 5 main characters could use one, but especially if they all have names like Pym and Paullus and Peron. I...more
1 like · like · see review
Jun 04, 2011
Julia
added it
"Fantasy is not meant to answer questions, but to pose them. Fantasy is meant to show us what we’re dealing with and send us on a further journey when we close the book and turn to our real lives." from Karyn Henley's blog. She has succeeded. Breath of Angel is a book you can read if you just want a good story or if you want to delve deeper, there are questions to be answered. Melaia is a young priestess, like many young girls, is in the process of becoming a woman but yet still very much a naiv...more
My husband saw me reading Karyn Henley’s Breath of Angel and asked why not breath of an angel, or breath of angels, or “Is the girl called Angel?” There is a girl on the cover, but she’s called Melaia. The angels, shape-shifters, myths and legends don’t come till after she’s witnessed a cruel murder and assigned herself the task of caring for the corpse.
Karyn Henley creates a rich world of myth and legend and introduces it beautifully, Melaia telling the story she knows then gradually peeling th...more
Karyn Henley creates a rich world of myth and legend and introduces it beautifully, Melaia telling the story she knows then gradually peeling th...more
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review
Breath of Angel was a great fantasy story and a strong setup for future stories in its world. Melaia, a young priestess, finds herself entangled in the secret struggle among angels, who have remained mostly hidden from the normal populace. She soon is carried off into adventure and ends up with more responsibility in the secret war than she had bargained for.
The mythology and backstory for the se...more
Breath of Angel was a great fantasy story and a strong setup for future stories in its world. Melaia, a young priestess, finds herself entangled in the secret struggle among angels, who have remained mostly hidden from the normal populace. She soon is carried off into adventure and ends up with more responsibility in the secret war than she had bargained for.
The mythology and backstory for the se...more
This may very well be the longest time frame ever for a book review, at least for me personally. Normally when I receive a book to review, I have it done within the week. This was not the case for this particular book. I received this book in February, and it is now May. I was fortunate enough to get an advanced reading copy, which means it is an uncorrected proof.
I do wonder if others reading this book now have the corrected and printed version and if it varies from mine in any manner. Would b...more
I do wonder if others reading this book now have the corrected and printed version and if it varies from mine in any manner. Would b...more
May 05, 2011
Susan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
YA, adult
Recommended to Susan by:
received copy from Blogging for Books
My Review:
Melaia is a 16 year old girl who is training to become High Priestess. Her life is simple and sheltered at the temple with the other young priestess in training. She is satisfied with her role, until the day a stranger arrives at the temple and she witnesses his murder by a hawk. Or so she thought . . . until the hawk turns into a man.
“Breath of Angel” is a coming of age type story mixed with the struggle between good and evil. Melaia is mixed up in the middle, even more than she can p...more
Melaia is a 16 year old girl who is training to become High Priestess. Her life is simple and sheltered at the temple with the other young priestess in training. She is satisfied with her role, until the day a stranger arrives at the temple and she witnesses his murder by a hawk. Or so she thought . . . until the hawk turns into a man.
“Breath of Angel” is a coming of age type story mixed with the struggle between good and evil. Melaia is mixed up in the middle, even more than she can p...more
Breath of Angel Definitely Didn't Disappoint!
Melaia, a chantress in Navia, was tricked into leaving Navia for Redcliff. The first couple chapters featured action and a background for the story to build from. However, the trip to Redcliff was drawn out longer than needed. Once Melaia arrived in Redcliff the action picked up and did not slow down until the end. Melaia learned during the story that the legends and myths she had learned growing up was much more complicated and held much more truth...more
Melaia, a chantress in Navia, was tricked into leaving Navia for Redcliff. The first couple chapters featured action and a background for the story to build from. However, the trip to Redcliff was drawn out longer than needed. Once Melaia arrived in Redcliff the action picked up and did not slow down until the end. Melaia learned during the story that the legends and myths she had learned growing up was much more complicated and held much more truth...more
Melaia is a chantress, trained in the art of storytelling, but the story of her life seems pretty dull. She's never left Navia, where she was left on the temple steps as an infant. She wants to travel, to see new places, to have adventures, but soon she gets far more than she bargained for. It turns out that the Angels in the old stories are real--as are the humans who ate the forbidden fruit of the Wisdom Tree, thereby gaining immortality. But the Wisdom Tree was destroyed, and with it the Ange...more
3 1/2 stars :) I was sucked into the pages of this book right away and I read it mostly in one evening, I had to go to sleep so I finished it the next day. The characters are a bit stiff at times, but then ever so often you get to glimpse inside and see their true natures. Angels, be them good or bad populate this book. Bad angels seems like a strange concept, but then again Satan was the Son of the Morning and he isn’t exactly sweet and cuddly.
The ending I didn’t really go for and so that is wh...more
The ending I didn’t really go for and so that is wh...more
The stairway to Heaven is not just a Led Zepplin song anymore. This baby is for real, and someone has closed it down, with no expectation as to when the DO NOT ENTER sign will be taken down. The souls are stuck on Earth with only one direction to go - down.
Melaia is a priestess trained in healing. She never thought witnessing a murder would turn her whole world upside down. Soon after this fateful murder, she is bought for the king of the land. These two evens may seem a far cry from one anothe...more
Melaia is a priestess trained in healing. She never thought witnessing a murder would turn her whole world upside down. Soon after this fateful murder, she is bought for the king of the land. These two evens may seem a far cry from one anothe...more
This YA fantasy novel has a lot of potential - the seeming building blocks for a good story - but never quite lives up to the promise. The central character, Melaia, has too much clumsy internal dialog and too much angst/doubt to be enjoyable (at least for me). She never quite developed into a character you are invested in and pulling for.
The world and atmosphere Henley builds (the Angelaeon structure, the Wisdom Tree, Carmethia, etc.) is interesting and, though somewhat derivative, works well a...more
The world and atmosphere Henley builds (the Angelaeon structure, the Wisdom Tree, Carmethia, etc.) is interesting and, though somewhat derivative, works well a...more
BREATH OF ANGEL by Karyn Henley is an interesting inspirational young adult fantasy.It is Book One in the "Angeleon Circle" series.It is written with details and depth. It has myths,angels,magic,shape shifters,murder,destiny,ancient debt,harps,and world trees.A feud between two immortal brothers who has destroyed the stairway to heaven,causing angels to be stranded in the earthly realm."The breath of angel,blood of man",the payment that involves the heart,soul and destiny of Melaia.This is a sto...more
First off, I thought that this book was really good! I was a little skeptical at first - I was expecting this to be another one of those vampires fantasy books that seem to be flying off the shelves these days. It's nothing like those! This isn't your typical fantasy book. I could not put it down once I got started. I kept wanting to read and read to see what happened next in Melaia's quest to restore The Wisdom Tree! The storyline and the characters were great. I enjoyed watching Melaia coming...more
This book is the first in the Angeleon Circle. This was an incredible book. It was an extremely quick read that was very enjoyable.
I really liked the characters a lot. There were quite a number of characters though. At first, it was a little tough keeping track of who’s who. However, after a little while I picked up each one.
Karyn Henley really did a great job creating a setting. I really felt like I was right there with them. I could picture it all in great detail.
All-in-all, I can’t wait unt...more
I really liked the characters a lot. There were quite a number of characters though. At first, it was a little tough keeping track of who’s who. However, after a little while I picked up each one.
Karyn Henley really did a great job creating a setting. I really felt like I was right there with them. I could picture it all in great detail.
All-in-all, I can’t wait unt...more
At sixteen, Melaia is living a happy life, though she has no family except for the other priestesses living in the temple. Then suddenly her world is turned upside down. She is thrown into a world of angels and magic and must try to learn who is an ally and who is an enemy before it’s too late. Throw in a little teen love angst (not enough to take over the book) and you have a decent story.
There are only a few negatives to this book, and they’re minor.
The story is only told from Melaia’s point...more
There are only a few negatives to this book, and they’re minor.
The story is only told from Melaia’s point...more
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Award-winning author Karyn Henley has written more than 100 titles, including a mix of childrens books and articles, parent-teacher books, articles, and curricula, and preschool musicals and CDs/DVDs of original music for children.
Venturing into the young adult market, Karyns first book in The Angelaeon Circle trilogy, Breath of Angel, was published in 2011 by WaterBrook Press (Random House). The...more
More about Karyn Henley...
Venturing into the young adult market, Karyns first book in The Angelaeon Circle trilogy, Breath of Angel, was published in 2011 by WaterBrook Press (Random House). The...more
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